Faculty DissertationsCopyright (c) 2016 Liberty University All rights reserved.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis
Recent documents in Faculty Dissertationsen-usThu, 22 Dec 2016 17:57:14 PST3600The Desecration and Restoration of the Temple as an Eschatological Motif in the Tanach, Jewish Apocalytic Literature, and the New Testamenthttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/157
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/157Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:40:32 PDTJohn Randall PriceA Grounded Theory Study Exploring the Technology Decisions Mothers Make for Their Preschool Age Children in the Home Environmenthttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/156
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/156Wed, 12 Aug 2015 08:02:50 PDT
The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to explore the technology decision process mothers use when making technology decisions for their preschool age (3-5 years) children in the home environment. I used snowball and maximum variation sampling procedures to purposefully select 18 mothers of preschool age children living in urban, suburban, and rural areas located in and around a college town in central Virginia. Data gathered from questionnaires, participant interviews, and focus groups were analyzed and findings revealed mothers’ technology decisions are a multi-dimensional process whereby they situationally reflect to form technology preferences which promote intentionality and individuality in the technology decisions they make for themselves and their children. The results of this study addressed the research gap regarding mothers’ technology decisions for their children by connecting and broadening theoretical understanding of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model (Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003) and the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998) through three new constructs: reflecting situationally, promoting intentionality, and valuing individuality.
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Carolyn Jeanne-Marie WicksAn Analysis of Students' Perception of Biblical Community within the Environment of Digital Media: A Mixed Methods Studyhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/155
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/155Mon, 29 Jun 2015 07:26:33 PDT
This study is an examination of teen perception regarding their understanding of biblical community within the environment of digital media. The study also examines the principles, essentials, or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment.

The researcher surveyed a sample of teens that attend classical, open enrollment, and closed enrollment Christian schools of various denominations as well as no denomination. A survey presenting a list of the essential principles of biblical community, regardless of environment, including questions for each objective was sent to the sample. The respondents were asked to participate in a quantitative Lickert-scale survey. An expert panel was utilized to validate and approve the principles of biblical community that were used in the student survey. The validation by the experts regarding the literature review was then used to form objective questions regarding the principles or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment. Triangulation was utilized as the principles reviewed in the literature review, validated by the expert panel, were formulated into a survey to measure perception.

The researcher analyzed the data in light of the principles or essentials of biblical community reviewed in the literature review and validated upon by the experts to demonstrate a need to better measure the effectiveness of biblical community within a particular environment. Also, the research demonstrated a need to educate parents and students alike as to what makes a community biblical. The benefit of the expert panel allowed for the findings to be validated in order to then create an instrument that measures student perception. The researcher sought to answer the question: Do teens, that attend Christian high schools, perceive their online relationships to facilitate the principles or essentials of biblical community? The more commonly asked questions concerning the effects of digital media on one’s face-to-face relationships cannot adequately be answered until the above question is answered.

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Matthew Alan Vander WieleAn International Cross-Cultural Study of the Role of Chief Informational Officers in Healthcarehttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/154
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/154Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:47:49 PST
The introduction and utilization of Information Systems (IS) in the hospital environment has had a significant and lasting impact on the practice of medicine. The development of this dissertation will attempt to explore a widely overlooked area: The comparison of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Aspects of CIO experiences relating to assumed roles, CIO challenges, skills, frustrations, success, failure, leadership, management, involvement and perceptions about the role of Information Technology (IT) in healthcare are discussed with a comparative global model. This study investigates the managerial roles of the Chief Information Officer based on Mintzberg's classical managerial role model.

To be successful, CIOs need to have relation-building skills, managerial skills, a broad knowledge of technology, and management, technical and business degrees along with certain personal traits and backgrounds.

While high technology has emerged as an important economic issue in all advanced industrial countries, there is much variation between countries in the success of their high technological industries, and in government efforts to encourage high technology in the healthcare sector.

This research will attempt to demonstrate that CIOs as a whole believe IT to be indispensable in effective realization of the healthcare mission in a global, information-intensive civilization, and that IT can positively impact the quality, cost and medical issues of healthcare.

The overall objective of this study is to examine the following: (1) will an increase in global information technology expand awareness of appropriate differing styles? (2) does global information technology have a positive and significant relationship within the international community?

Finally, this study calls for more interdisciplinary research integrating insight from organizational behavior, international business and information technology.

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Wallace SaundersBest Practices for Online Theological Ministry Preparation: A Delphi Method Studyhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/153
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/153Fri, 06 Feb 2015 07:44:18 PST
This doctoral thesis intended to provide a clear vision of best practices in the area of online theological ministry training at the graduate level by consulting experts in the field. The research question that needed to be answered was, “What are the best practices for ministry preparation in online theological education?”

Despite tremendous growth in online learning even among theological institutions, casual observations suggest that the decision to offer online programs may not always have been rooted in deep pedagogical or theological reflection. In other words, in the quest to utilize online education as a viable option for degree preparation, has serious thought been given to the uniqueness of the online learning environment and the potential impact of those differences to how ministry training is accomplished? Or has the choice been driven primarily by pragmatic considerations? A review of the literature revealed that research was needed that would establish consensus among the experts on best practices for online theological ministry training. This research would build on established practices of both online and theological education.

This thesis was a mixed-methods exploratory sequential design that utilized the Delphi method in order to establish consensus among the experts on best practices for online theological ministry training. Seventeen experts were recruited that are involved in either the administrative oversight or teaching with seminary or graduate online theological ministry training degree programs. In an anonymous study, each expert answered eight open-ended questions about online theological ministry training. These answers were analyzed for emergent themes and served as the foundation for a Likerttype survey where forty-three statements were then analyzed as to their level of importance related to successfully meeting the four learning outcomes for the Master of Divinity for the Association of Theological Schools. These results were examined for consensus and another survey was given using only those items that achieved consensus.

The findings were evaluated from both a consensus and non-consensus perspective. Results of the mixed method Delphi study provided thirty statements of best practices for online theological ministry preparation for which there was consensus. Statements achieving consensus were obtained in all four areas of learning outcomes for the Master of Divinity for the Association of Theological Schools: Religious heritage, cultural context, personal and spiritual formation, and capacity for ministerial and public leadership. Finally, the implications of these findings were discussed along with suggestions for further research.

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John CartwrightUsing Assessments in Facilitating the Assimilation of Adults at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michiganhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/152
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/152Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:43:01 PST
The goal of assimilating believers into the community of faith has been, is and will continue to be a crucial element and a significant challenge for churches. Most commonly, assimilation is used to describe the process by which people are absorbed into the cultural tradition of an existing population or organization. This thesis explores the impact that a standardized assimilation process has on the incorporation of people into the community of a large church setting.
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David D. NemitzA Mixed-Methods Study of the Variables that Influence Florida Southern Baptists' Affirmation of the Inerrancy of the Biblehttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/151
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/151Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:31:56 PST
The culmination of the resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was finalized by adopting the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM 2000). The SBC had discovered in the 1970s and 1980s that belief in the inerrancy of the Bible was not being affirmed by their leadership, particularly within their six seminaries. After a twenty plus year battle, the SBC attempted to affirm in more precise language the inerrancy of the Bible through the BFM 2000. However, this raises the question, how has this firm commitment to the inerrancy of the Bible, as affirmed by the leadership, translated to the general membership of the SBC? The extant literature reveals a gap in the research. That is, the general membership within the SBC had not been surveyed to determine the degree to which they affirm the doctrine of inerrancy. Due to the size of the general population of the Southern Baptist Convention and limited resources, a sample population was selected – namely Florida Southern Baptists (FSB). A mixed-method analysis was conducted by surveying 502 FSB church members with a 68-question survey instrument and then formulating an expert panel to comment on the findings. The study revealed that a large percentage of FSB church members affirmed the doctrine, but the underlining beliefs were not always consistently acknowledged. There was an inconsistent understanding of Genesis1-11 and misapplication of the moral and personal living commands of the Bible. The importance of continual Christian education of the Bible and essential orthodox beliefs within the church and home can ensure that future generations will affirm a correct understanding the term of inerrancy.
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David A. McGeeA Phenomenological Study of Clinicians Treating Traumagenic Compulsions Resulting from Childhood Sexual Abusehttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/150
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/150Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:08:24 PST
Various types of traumatic compulsive behaviors have been observed by practicing mental health clinicians and yet there is a lack of consensus among such clinicians for treating people in such a problematic state when there is also a history of childhood sexual abuse. Ten seasoned clinicians, each with over 15 years experience in treating patients with traumagenic compulsions and childhood sexual abuse were interviewed to explore their lived experience treating people with traumagenic compulsions due to childhood sexual abuse. A phenomenological design was used to asses the data collected in the study. The data were analyzed to determine the best prevention, intervention, and treatment (PIT) practices that could be used to assist persons diagnosed with traumagenic compulsive behaviors and childhood sexual abuse. The first research question yielded a variety of responses that showed the use of formal assessment measures, behavioral observations, and formal interviews to assess for traumagenic compulsions. The second question found a respect for patient guardedness as an attempt for the patients to protect themselves from further harm. A crucial finding was the lack of reimbursed time to explore the full dynamics of compulsive behaviors and emotional attachment. The third question yielded terms like power , control , fixated , depth of pain , and lack of power in describing the treatment process. The therapists were cognizant of the resistance and guardedness of patients there to deal with other symptoms; as the patients generally may not volunteer their own compulsive behaviors. A general consensus of clinicians emerged so as to delineate the link between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive collecting and compulsive hoarding. Thus, a starting point for a treatment protocol was established and provided a recommendation for future research.
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Albert SarnoThe Puritans' Use of Scripture in the Development of an Apocalyptic Hermeneutichttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/149
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/149Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:32:11 PST
The study of the apocalyptical phenomenon in biblical prophecy is an area of current investigation in biblical studies. The present dissertation utilizes the sociology of knowledge to investigate the socio-economic-religio-political milieu of the English Puritans in their development of an apocalyptical hermeneutic.

Medieval and Reformation backgrounds to the Puritan apocalyptic are traced from Wycliffe through Luther, Calvin, Knox, Bale, Bullinger and Foxe. The historic Protestant apocalyptic tradition was then adopted by the Marian exiles at Geneva and popularized through the extensive annotations of the various editions of the Geneva Bible. To these were added the speculations of such scholars as Napier, Ralegh, Brightman and Broughton.

In time, the millennialism of Alsted and Mede captured the Puritan imagination and became the predominant viewpoint as the Puritans adopted a “realized apocalyptic” which placed them within the apocalypse itself. Believing that the Battle of Armageddon had already begun, they logically concluded that a righteous revolution of the saints was necessary to fulfill the purposes of God against the Antichrist.

During the height of militant millenarianism the Puritans maintained a significant influence upon British politics through the Long Parliament and the subsequent Barebone’s Parliament. The Fifth Monarchists urged the Parliament to revolt against the monarchy, execute the King and establish Christ’s Kingdom on earth by force. However, at the height of their influence the Puritans became bitterly divided against themselves and their coalition fragmented into failure to impose their apocalyptic vision on the nation.

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Edward HindsonTrends in Gospel Music Publishing: 1940 to 1960http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/148
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/148Fri, 10 Oct 2014 06:13:07 PDT
The purpose of this study was to compile a historical survey of gospel music publishing from 1940 to 1960. Elements for investigation included the stated objectives, decisions, and marketing strategies employed by gospel music publishers to expand their markets from 1940 to 1960 and factors contributing to the growth in the gospel music publishing industry from 1940 to 1960.

The information for the study was collected through oral history methodology consisting of interviews with seven leaders in the industry including: Billy Ray Hearn, Chuck Fromm, Ralph Carmichael, John W. Peterson, Robert R. MacKenzie, Jessy Dixon, and Bill Gaither. Personal interviews with all seven participants were completed, recorded on audio tape, transcribed to print, and used as primary research materials.

Additional data were collected from publisher catalogs, interviews, magazine articles, actual music publications, reference books, and trade journals. This information served as secondary resource material and combined with interviews to provide documentation for a historical narrative.

Several conclusions relating to the developments of the gospel music publishing industry may be drawn from this study. First, the centuries-old tradition of dynamic individuals forging changes and developments in gospel music publishing remained an effective method for marketing music to the evangelical church from the 1940s to 1960s. These personalities were often thrust into the limelight through the introduction of one particular song.

Secondly, the complex history of gospel music publishing is based on the intertwining influences of evangelical theological tenets, charismatic performers within the evangelical culture, and modern business practices that capitalize on these two elements. Music publishers remained reactive in a field where change was prompted by events outside their direct influence. Publishers quickly hired the artists and contracted with others to produce and arrange music, but seldom did successful marketing occur as the result of research and development prior to the introduction of specific works or artists. This is due to the fact that, in many ways, the publishing industry is like the religious community it serves, seeking new markets only when sudden artist popularity or publishing tradition were clearly identified. The problem lies with the religious community's reluctant acceptance of the secular style as an avenue for religious expression. Historically that problem has been resolved by large social upheavals such as war, urbanization, industrialization, and religious crises such as denominational divisions and revivalist movements. When a secular style adapted to religious use accompanied one of these cataclysmic changes, the style could be more easily accepted.

Third, musical styles acceptable to the gospel evangelical community resembled the styles accepted to the secular community. This is an interesting anomaly since it implies a muddying of the sacred/secular divisions that, heretofore, had defined musical acceptance by the evangelical community. Yet, no such conflict exists for the gospel artist for whom a style is merely a sound vehicle for gospel text. The particular musical style characteristics that bring emotional satisfaction due to their familiarity, popularity, or inherent musicality are made "sacred" by their adaptation to gospel text and are subsumed under the artist's religious and evangelical intents. The artist's compelling desire to write in a particular style is interpreted not to be the result of anything inherent in that style, but the "will of God" working through that style to reveal greater truth.

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Vernon M. WhaleyThe Effect of CACREP Accreditation on Credentialing Exam Scoreshttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/147
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/147Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:02:47 PDT
The age of accountability, evolving from outcome- and standards-based practices, is prevalent in the education, healthcare, and counseling fields. In regards to standards, counselor education is framed by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for best practices in terms of content knowledge; however the assessment of competence of that knowledge is not easily defined. Furthermore, school counselors are held to the standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to practice within a certain scope of competence; however, the determination of that level is also not easily or clearly defined. This research sought to investigate credentialing exams and their relationship to competence for school counselors by examining Praxis II: School Guidance and Counseling exam results based on accreditation of participants’ graduate-level school counseling program. This study found no statistically significant effect between accreditation of the participants’ graduate-level school counseling program and results on the Praxis II exam. Likewise, no statistically significant relationship between age, gender, ethnicity, or GPA and Praxis II results was found. Further research, both quantitative and qualitative, should be conducted to investigate the relationship between accreditation and exam results. Last, alignment between counselor education program objectives, standards, and assessment should be strengthened to gain a better grasp on attaining competence.
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Richard Justin SilveyImpact of Information Technology Governance Structures on Strategic Alignmenthttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/146
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/146Tue, 06 May 2014 10:35:44 PDT
This dissertation is a study of the relationship between Information Technology (IT) strategic alignment and IT governance structure within the organization. This dissertation replicates Asante (2010) among a different population where the prior results continue to hold, the non-experimental approach explored two research questions but include two moderating variables: industry type and organization size. The model used in this study was Luftman (2003) Strategic Alignment Model (SAM) which was validated through previous research. This research used web-based surveys to collect the data from multiple organizations which include IT executives and managers, and addresses the missing link between IT governance and strategic alignment of different industries. The sampling frame were about 3000 business professionals from medium and large sized companies in the United States of which 138 responded in the time allotted for data collection. The study tested four hypotheses which were measured using statistical correlation including Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U test and logistics regression. The study finds that there is not significant relationship between IT strategic alignment and levels of IT governance structure and federal IT governance structure within the organization.
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Fitzroy R. GordonDemonstrative Faith in the Public and Private Life of John Adams Based on His Writingshttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/145
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/145Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:08:43 PDT
John Adams was the second President of the United States (1797-1801). Considered to be a "passionate sage," many historians quote him in their manifold volumes. There is a problem, however, in many references to Adams' faith. Ignored, dismissed, and distorted by these writers, the context of Adams' life expediently conforms to secular writers' presuppositions and conclusions. These misrepresentations occur in lieu of the many references to God, Providence, and the Supreme Being found in his personal letters and other writings.

The purpose of this thesis was to chronicle elements of Adams' life related to his faith in public and private, removing popular notions that he was an atheist, agnostic or Deist. To accomplish this goal, his peculiar beliefs warranted examination. Areas related to Adams’ personal theology, private and public conduct, and views on the church and family were treated. Based on evidence derived from his own words, Adams’ faith aligned most closely with a biblically-based, Christian worldview.

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James A. WicksA Study of the Relationships among Secondary Traumatic Stress, Coping, and Years of Service in Firefighter/Emergency Medical Service Personnelhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/144
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/144Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:50:29 PST
The purpose of this study is to examine relationships among stress, coping, and years of service in rescue personnel. One hundred sixteen voluntary subjects employed in Fire/EMS service in a small southern city participated in the study. Subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, The Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), and The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS).

The incidence of symptomatic stress for the sample was 19.8 percent, higher than the general population but comparable to rates found in other studies of rescue workers. Calls involving children were rated as most disturbing by the subjects. There was no relationship found between years of service and stress or coping in the total sample or those with symptomatic stress. Age was found to correlate positively with trauma scores and negatively with social diversion coping in those identified as having symptomatic stress. Stress scores (total DTS) and emotion-based coping had a significant positive correlation in all subjects. This study supports previous research pointing to the stress encountered by those in emergency service professions. The link between emotion-based coping and symptomatic stress is similar to other studies finding a relationship between neuroticism and stress symptoms in rescue personnel. The findings also suggest that the risk of developing stress symptoms may increase with age. Further work could help separate the effect of years of service and age in relation to stress. The amount of exposure to traumatic situations and its relationship to stress also needs further study.

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Lynne S. SandersTrends in the Portrayal of the Puritans Found In American History Textbooks from the 1870s through the 1990s As Influenced By Secular Educational Philosophyhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/143
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/143Thu, 27 Feb 2014 10:33:45 PST
There has been a movement to exclude a Biblical worldview from high school American history textbooks exchanging it for a secular worldview through the use of historical revisionism. Available literature failed to adequately address the impact of revisionism within the pages of American history textbooks specifically concerning the portrayal of the American Puritans. Therefore, an analysis of American history textbooks beginning in the 1870s through the 1990s was necessary to demonstrate the existence of historical revisionism regarding the treatment of the American Puritans and whether a trend existed to revise their place in American history textbooks over the past two centuries.

Sixty-five high school American history textbooks were examined in this analysis, five from each decade covering the 1870s to the 1990s. Three research questions were asked: What is an appropriate historical view of the Puritans? What are the changes that have occurred in the treatment of the Puritans over the time span from the earliest high school American history textbooks until the end of the twentieth century? And what is the impact of secular education (revisionism) on the portrayal of the Puritans? An analysis document also directed the examination of each textbook and was validated by the work of Perry Miller and United States History: Heritage of Freedom published by A Beka Book.

Findings were presented that illustrated trends of secular (progressive) revisionism in twenty-seven categories and topics. The most prominent means of revising the story of the Puritans was the elimination of material concerning their beliefs and practices. The removal of this history served to diminish the presence of a Biblical worldview while promulgating an alternate secular worldview. Implications of this trend analysis were outlined and suggestions made for Christian education.

Historical revisionism is a by-product of secular educational philosophy. In this study of sixty-five high school American history textbooks it was evident that historical revisionism had influenced the treatment of the Puritans. The result of this revisionism was biased, superficial textbooks promoting ignorance of America’s rich Christian heritage.

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James A. WicksTrends in Didactic Children's Literature from the Twentieth Century to the Present as Influenced by Secular Educational Philosophyhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/142
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/142Sat, 22 Feb 2014 07:25:16 PST
The purpose of this analysis was to identify trends in didactic children’s literature from the twentieth century to the present as influenced by secular educational philosophy. Using popularity and content research, ten books were sought from each decade beginning in the twentieth century and concluding with the beginning of the twenty-first century. These books were studied to determine what popular books didactically infer about society, culture, religion, gender, family, ecology, and controversial issues such as divorce, prejudice, violence, and physical intimacy. Using trend analysis of a homogeneous sampling of realistic American fiction, written in prose, for elementary readers in kindergarten through sixth grade, this study examined how secular educational philosophy influenced children’s literature throughout the twentieth century to the present. Examination of the results, in response to the purpose statement, delineated the full scope of the implications of this trend analysis and the necessary recommendations.

Didacticism has changed from a moral teaching method popularized by the Puritans to a medium for sociopolitical dogma. This study showed a correlation between progressive educational philosophy and trends in children’s literature regarding society and culture, religion, gender and family, ecology, and controversial issues in books from 1900 to 2003. Didacticism was used to forward secular philosophy that emphasizes moral relativism, behavioral autonomy, and global citizenship.

This trend analysis concluded that the dominance of progressive didacticism in children’s literature over the last forty years mandates Christian colleges and universities to provide increased literary teacher training, and for Christian schools around the country to change their library policies, provide administrative leadership, supervise classroom libraries, and help parents develop literary awareness. Literature can have a profound effect on a child; therefore, Christians must determine what that didactic influence will be.

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Carolyn WicksComparing Two-Year Community College and Four-Year University Student Social and Behavioral Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Factorshttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/141
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/141Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:03:37 PDT
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could cause ectopic, cervical cancer, infertility, and organ damage to the heart, kidneys, and brain. This study compared several behavioral risk factors of STIs (condom use, number of sexual partners, type of sex (anal or vaginal) and drinking habits) between two distinct educational settings and their association with socioeconomic risk factors such as low income and parent’s lower level of education that are known to increase the incidence of STIs among college-aged students. This study was based on the precautionary-health-behavior model, where individuals act regardless of consequences, and the health-behavior-change model, where individual behaviors either increase one’s risk of contracting or preventing an STI. A total of 238 participants responded with 139 from each institution. Data were analyzed using chi-square, and linear and logistic regression analysis to determine which educational setting has more STI behavioral risk factors and if there is a greater risk of students with lower socioeconomic status (SES) reporting these behavioral risk factors.

The study concluded that students enrolled in a 4-year university are not more likely to report STI behavioral risk factors than students enrolled at a 2 year community college. However, the study did show that students with SES factors of low income and parents with lower levels of education is related to a higher risk of reporting an increased risk of noncondom use, a higher number of sexual partners, anal and vaginal sex, and at risk drinking habits associated with STIs. Implications for positive social change include increased awareness of STI among college-aged students which can lead to lower STI incidence rates regardless if it is a 2-year college or a 4 year university.

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Oswald M. AttinAn Analysis of Youth Ministers' Perceptions of Character Qualities, Leadership Competencies, and Leadership Flaws that Facilitate or Hinder Effective Youth Ministryhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/140
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/140Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:02:40 PDTTroy W. TempleThe Forgiving Family: Effects of a Parent-led Forgiveness Program on Mental and Relational Healthhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/139
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/139Wed, 29 May 2013 07:52:02 PDT
This study appraises the effects of a parent-led forgiveness intervention on mental health and relationship variables for parents and their third grade children (ages 8-9) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In this study, parents in the experimental group (n = 5) used a curriculum guide to teach forgiveness to their children, while the control parents (n = 5) participated in art activities with their children. Statistical analyses demonstrated a significant increase in interpersonal forgiveness of an offender for parents who taught forgiveness to their child. No significant between-group differences were revealed for other mental health and relationship variables, either for children or for parents. Implementation issues, findings, and future directions are discussed.
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Chad MagnusonAdult Retraining Programs and Reemployment for Dislocated Workershttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/138
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fac_dis/138Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:52:37 PST
A variety of government sponsored programs provide retraining and income assistance to dislocated workers, yet it is unclear whether these initiatives are effective in providing workers the essential skills needed for new careers. Using Mezirow’s transformational learning theory, this study was designed to evaluate programs in selected counties in the states of Virginia and North Carolina. Using self-administered surveys, data were gathered from college instructors, dislocated workers, and local business owners. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and related to each research question. Results showed that instructors were effectively using adult training methods, the majority of students perceived their retraining as successful based on the academic results achieved, and local employers were willing to hire retrained workers emerging from the programs. The one area of concern was poor communication among the colleges and the employers. Having the colleges increase correspondence would help employers identify open positions and help workers connect with these companies. The positive steps taken by these programs and the recommendation for improved communications may help other programs overcome retraining obstacles, especially in remote geographic regions of the country.
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Tony J. Perry